£130m housing revolution

523 homes will be built; 463 others transformed

PLANS to build 523 houses and refurbish 463 others to transform the gateways into Oldham are set to be given the green light tonight.

Six proposals to develop much-needed housing and smarten up run-down areas go before Oldham Planning Committee with all of them recommended for approval.

They include five applications to build a total of 430 new homes, ranging from two to five bedrooms, and carry out the extensive refurbishment as part of the Gateway to Oldham scheme, funded by £130 million of Government money.

The project also provides for the creation of new purpose-built community rooms, enhanced recreational spaces, extensive landscaping and improvements to car parking provision and private gardens.

A report to the committee says: “Strategically, the scheme will contribute to the regeneration of key road and rail gateways into the heart of Oldham.”

The council’s development partner, the Inspiral consortium, has worked with council officers and residents to develop the final designs.

As well as construction, refurbishment, and infrastructure improvements, the contractor will be responsible for maintaining the social rented properties for 25 years.

The five Gateway developments include:

::Building 78 houses at the now demolished Fitton Hill Junior School, Keswick Avenue. There will be substantial areas of public open space, including informal squares along shared streets and a small green around an existing mature tree. The layout includes shared street surfaces, parking bays and traffic- calming measures.


::Building 47 houses on land at Dew Way, Hilda Street and Oldham Way, Oldham. It includes shared street surfaces, landscaping, car parking bays and an informal bay.


::Building 28 houses at North House, Rochdale Road, Oldham and creating a zone with shared street surfaces, landscaping, narrow roads, parking bays and an informal square. The site currently has a building, which used to be occupied by Oldham Trading Standards.


::Demolishing 64 existing homes and replacing them with 85 houses, refurbishing 365 existing homes and constructing a new community centre and two retail units on land at Crossley Estate, Denton Lane and Walsh Street, Chadderton.

The post-war housing estate currently consists of terrace housing, two tower blocks, a shopping parade and playing fields.

The tower blocks will be integrated into the estate and improved, while open space will be remodelled as Stockfield Community Lawn with sculptures and play areas provided. There will be shared street surfaces, street tree-planting, parking bays and traffic calming measures. The new properties will be 100 per cent affordable as social rented accommodation.


::Demolishing 254 existing houses and replacing them with 192 homes, refurbishing 98 others and building a new community centre at Primrose Bank, Oldham.

The post-war housing estate will be transformed with recreational open space created and a zone with shared street surfacing, landscaping, narrow roads and parking bays. The new houses will be 50 per cent affordable as social rented accommodation.


The final application is from Countour Housing Group for a development of 93 eco-homes, car parking and public open space on land at St Mary’s Way, Oldham.

The area has been vacant for a number of years since flats built in the 1960s were demolished but will be regenerated by the £14 million scheme with the environmentally friendly family homes for sale, rent or shared ownership.

Roads within the scheme will be laid out as home zones with shared surfaces for vehicles and pedestrians and restricted through surface treatments and landscaping to prevent cars travelling at speed. The scheme was approved by cabinet in December.